Air-heating system for fireplaces



July 30, 1929. J. w. CORNELIUS AIR HEATING SYSTEM FOR FIREPLACES Filed April 21, 1928 Inventor 32 JWCarnehus Aaomcys Patented July 30, 1929.

UNETE TAT JESSE W. CORNELIUS, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

AIR-HEATING SYSTEM FOR FIREPLACES.

Application filed April 21,

My invention relates to air heating systems for fireplaces and has for its object the provision of apparatus of the character des gnated which shall be effective to provide a circulation of air from a room where ithas been partially heated and where the fireplace is located, and delivered to a more remote point where heated air is required.

A further object of my invention is to provide an air circulating system for a fireplace wherein partially heated air is withdrawn from the room where the fireplace is located and at a point closely adjacent to the fireplace, and then delivered to a more remote point without interferencewith the draft on the fireplace.

A still further object of my inventlon 1s to provide an improved air circulating system for fireplaces together with improved means for transmitting heat from the fireplace to the air circulating system.

My invention contemplates the provision of a hollow fireback for a fireplace and the connection of an air duct to the hollow fireback, said air duct being positioned to withdraw air from the room in which the fireplace is opened and immediately adjacent the sides of the fireplace. After the air is heated it is delivered through a suitable duct, preferably by forced draft means, to a remote point where heated air is required. In order that the draft of the fireplace shall not be interfered with by the forced withdrawal of part1- ally heated air from a point adjacent the fire place, I provide suitable ducts for admittlng air beneath the fire, said air being taken from beneath the floor of the room in which the fireplace is located.

Apparatus embodying features of my 1nvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line II of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line IIII of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, I show a fireplace comprising a flue 10, the usual front opening 11, the hearth 12, and having positioned therein a grate 13. Extending transversely across the fireplace and embedded in the brick work at the sides is a forwardly curved plate 14. forming a fire back. The bottom of the plate is bent forwardly under the grate to form a back hearth 15 upon which the grate 13 rests. A smoke shelf 16 extends 1928. Serial No. 271,925.

transversely across the fireplace, and joining the plate 14. The rear of the'smoke plate 16 is downwardly curved to form a smooth surface for the stream line flow of air and is embedded in the rear brickwork of the fireplace at 17 so as to form, in cooperation with the plate 14, a chamber which constitutes a hollow fire back. Secured to the underside of the plate 16 is a downwardly and forwardly curved baffle 20 which extends across the hollow fire back and serves to divert the air currents downwardly behind the plate 14.

On the rear of the plate 14 are formed fins 18 for the better radiation of heat. ing upwardly to the rear of theplate 14 is a partition 19 which is curved forwardly underneath the back hearth 15 at 21 to form, with the back hearth, an outlet duct 22 which is connected to a discharge conduit 23 leading to an outlet 24 for the heated air. The par- Extendtition 19 extends upwardly behind the plate 7 14 to a point short of the smoke shelf 16 so as to define rear and front vertical air ducts 26 and 27 in the hollow fire back.

Positioned in front of the partition 19 is a plate member 28 having secured thereto a plurality of partition elements 29 which extend forwardly and contact with the plate 14 between the fins 18 so as to form a plurality'of vertically extending conduits in the duct 27 to the rear of the plate 14 for better maintaining an even flow of the air therethrough, withput eddies, andfor the better transmission of ieat.

At each side of the fireplace is provided an air intake conduit 31 having suitable shutters 30 and extending rearwardly to connect with a downwardly extending conduit 32 which terminates in a cross conduit 33 provided in the brick work beneath the fireplace and having positioned therein a motor driven fan 34 for driving the air upwardly through the conduit 26. At the rear of the cross conduit 33 is a hinged door 37 which permits access to the fan for inspection and lubrication.

It will beseen that, with the apparatus so far described, if the fan 34-be operated it acts to withdraw air through the conduits 31 and 33 and force it upwardly through the conduit 26 from whence it passes downwardly between the partition 14 in contact with the fins 18 and partitions 29 where it is highly heated and discharged through the outlet conduit 23. To prevent this forced withdrawal of air from interfering with the draft of the fireplace, I provide a conduit 35 in the brick work at each side of the fireplace and terminating beneath the floor of the room at 38 and above the fioor beneath the grate at 39. By this means, fresh air for combustion is drawn by action of the fire directly through the conduits 3'5 and supplied directly beneath the grate. I

In operation, the fan 34 draws the air, which has already been partially heated in the room where the fireplace is located, through the conduits 31, and discharges it, as before described, outwardly through the discharge duct 23 and outlet 24 to a remote point of use. If desired to humidify the air, I provide a water tank 4:1 adjacent the outlet 24:. The apparatus may also be used for ventilation without fire in the fireplace by filtering the air in the ducts 31 by any suitable means, such as washing the air through wet coke.

It will be apparent that the air in its travel through the hollow fire back, being diverted by the curved portion of the smoke plate 16 and the baffle 20,1neets with a minimum of resistance. Furthermore, as the air travels downwardly between the partition members 29, it does so smoothly without the formation of troublesome eddy currents.

WVhile I have shown my invention in but one form it will be obvious to those skilled in that art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art, or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an air circulating system for fireplaces, a plate member extending transversely of the fireplace forward of the rear brick work and embedded in the side brick work thereof'to form a fire back, a lower forwardly bent portion of the plate member forming a back hearth, a partition member arranged to the rear of the fire back to form communieating front and rear vertical parallel ducts with the fire back, a shelf member joining the 1 fire back to the rear brick Work of the fireoutlet duct.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the partition member'isjoined to the fire back by means of a plurality of partition plates to form vertically extending guide .conduits for the air being heated.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the partition member is joined to the fire back by means of a plurality of partition plates to form vertically extending guide conduits for the air being heated, and curved directing surfaces are provided in the upper portion of the hollow fire back to reverse the flow of air from rear duct to the forward duct.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claiml wherein the partition member is joined to the fire back by means of a plurality of partition plates to form vertically extending guide conduits for the air being heated, and fins are provided on the rear of the plate member forming the fire back.

5. In an air circulating system for a fireplace, a plate member extending transversely across the fireplace and embedded in the brick work thereof to form a fire back, said plate member having a forwardly extending portion forming a back hearth, a smoke shelf joining the upper end of the fire back to the rear brick work of the fireplace to form a hollow air heating chamber, a partition member in the chamber and forming therewith front and rear vertical ducts, a duct formed in each side of the fireplace and communicating with the room in which the fireplace is located and the rear duct in the fire back chamber, an outlet duct leading to a place remote from the fireplace and communicating with the front duct in the fire back chamber, and forced draft means for effecting a circulation of air through the ducts. l

6. In an air circulating system for fire-- places, a plate member extending transversely of the fireplace forward of the rear brick work and embedded in the side brick work thereof to form a fire back, a lower forwardly bent portion of the plate member forming a back hearth, a partition member arranged to the rear of the fire back to form communicating front and rear vertical parallel duets with the fire back, a shelf member oining the fire back to the rear brick work of the fireplace to form a hollow chamberand close the upper ends of the ducts, a duct extending through the brick work on each side of the fireplace and communicating with the rear ductformed by the partition member, an outlet duct connected to the forward duct formed by the partition member and the fire back, and forced draft means for effecting a withdrawal of air from the room in which the fireplace is located through the ducts at the side of the fireplace, thence through the ductat the rear of the fire backa-nd outwardly through the outlet duct, wherein the partition member is joined to the fire back by means of a plurality of partition plates to form vertically extending guide conduits for the air being cheated, and fins are provided on the rear of the plate member forming the fire back, said partition member being bent forwardly beneath the back hearth to form a portion of the outlet duct.

7 In an air circulating system for a fireplace, a plate member extending transversely across the fireplace and embedded in the brick work thereof to form a fire back, said plate member having a forwardly extending portion forming a back hearth, a smoke shelf joining the upper end of the fire back to the rear brick work of the fireplace to form a hollow air heating chamber, a partition member in the chamber and forming therewith front and rear vertical ducts, a duct formed in each sideof the fireplace and communicating with the room in which the fireplace is located and the rear duct in the fire back chamber, and an outlet duct leading to a place remote from the fireplace and communicat- Iiong with the front duct in the fire back cham- In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JESSE W. CORNELIUS. 

